6/14/3: Panners return to Fairbanks -DN-M - Rich Larson"Playing for coach Cheff is always challenging and fun. He pushes you to be your best," said Welch, who pitched the Panners to a 2-1 win over the Peninsula Oilers on Monday in Kenai. "We're here to try to win some more ballgames and looking for another great experience like last year." Tyler Best said, "It's awesome. I've been waiting to come back up here the whole school year. To be back in Fairbanks playing ball is great. We've got a shot to win another national title."Pitcher Kyle Allen, who plays college ball at Orange Coast College in California, is one of the newcomers to this year's Panners squad. He was one of three pitchers used in the Panners 4-0 win over the Miners. "I feel kind of honored to have been invited," Allen said. "There are some high expectations here, some big shoes to fill."

"Allen led the Pirates with 120 strikeouts in 99.1 innings of work, holding opponents to a .224 batting average. He finished the season with a record of 6-5 and threw six complete games. In a 4-1 win over three-time defending state champion Riverside on April 3, Allen fanned a school-record 18 batters, one of five double-digit strikeout performances on the season. "

4/30/3: Strikes out 18 batters "That was by far the best game I've ever pitched," said Allen, who scattered seven hits en route to his fourth complete game of the season. "Every time I go out there, I'm hoping to pitch well and try to take some of the pressure off of my teammates."

2003 PRESEASON ALL-OEC SOPHOMORE TEAM

2003 All-OEC SECOND TEAM

"MTV’s latest changes lives

Krystal Hatchelland Rodney HaasReporters

The Aztec field at West Campus was the location for the filming of the MTV show, “Flipped” last Friday the Men’s Baseball team, KRQ a local radio station and Tobacco Freeways, a non profit organization all participated in helping an 18 year old baseball player quit chewing smokeless tobacco. The target of the show was Kyle Allen a ball player from Orange Coast Community College in Costa Mesa, Calif. who is an avid user of smokeless tobacco.

The target of the show was Kyle Allen a ball player from Orange Coast Community College in Costa Mesa, Calif. who is an avid user of smokeless tobacco. Allen came to Tucson thinking he was attending an exhibition game showcasing the top 40 players in the nation. Actually the players were members of the Pima Community College menąs baseball team who were disguised as the Sidewinders. Kyle had no idea what was going to be sprung on him. Early on in the Kyle was ejected from the game for chewing tobacco. It is against the rules and regulations of any minor league, college or high school player to use this product according to Al Coons, Special Projects coordinator for the Seattle Mariners and part-time faculty member at PCC. The reason we do it this way is if you preach to a teenager about something like tobacco they aren't going to listen. If they donąt know they are being preached to and they don't know they are being taught a lesson then it sinks in more. It's kind of like this revelation that almost changes the way they think about things, said Sarah Wetherbee, producer of the MTV show.

When I got kicked out of the game I kind of knew about the rule but I wasnąt sure if they were going to enforce it so I just left quietly. Then when I came back and had to pitch again that was kind of weird, but then my mom came out, said Allen.

After Kyle's mom came out he knew that he wasnąt in Tucson for what he thought he was. He had no idea that this was happening with the tobacco, he thought he was here strictly for baseball, said Londa, Allen Kyle's mother. We have been trying to get him to quit for awhile. Allen started chewing when he was a senior in high school at the age of 17 according to his mother. MTV came to his school and interviewed some of the kids and taped them. The tape was submitted and Kyle was picked out of the hundreds of interviews they did. The timing couldn't have been more ironic, we have been talking to him and explaining things to him.

Telling him about people who lost their jobs because of cancer, said Allenąs mother. At the event were several people who had first hand contact with cancer caused by tobacco use. They were willing to educate and relay the message to Kyle and all those who were willing to listen including the Aztec baseball team.

Gruen VonBehrens, a victim of a severe case of oral cancer was brought out to confront Kyle on the issue. VonBehrens had chewed from the age 14 to 17. In his senior year he was diagnosed with cancer. They cut out all the lymph nodes in his neck and he has had to endure numerous surgeries. The cancer is gone now. I had radiation, it killed my bone and my voice. I have to get reconstructive surgery, said VonBehrens. I can tell Kyle to get rid of that stuff because you don't need it. He's got a good arm, he's a good pitcher and I hope he can make it. I hate to see something happen to him and lose it all. "I was very surprised. I had absolutely no idea, and I am glad they did it. It was a big shock, a big big shock!" said Allen. Allen's final decision after the whole intervention was over was to quit dipping. We are really excited that he is going to quit. I told him I would buy him as much bubble gum and as many sunflower seeds as he needed! said Allen's mom. Friday, May 9, 2001" (Source: Aztec Press)